I am not sure if he has been talked about at length yet so I am sorry if it has. Softy had a guy on and the guy mentioned Carradine. Basically he thought that i his injury checks out ok he could creep into the 1st round. What I liked is he said he is a good pass rusher and an even better against the run. I like players that are good pass rushers and I like players that are good against the run but I really, really like players that can do both above average. Just looking at his size(6'4", 265) he definitely has the size. Could he be our future every down LEO? This would be great as it would also allow Irvin to come in as a pure pass rushing specialist which I think suits him much better. Even if Irvin grows into a great LEO Tank wouldn't be that far, size wise, from ending up being able to play SDE and be the future replacement to Red.

So my question is what are other's thoughts on Tank? Would drafting him in the late first be too much of a risk?

Carradine is an interesting player. He won't have "recent ACL" status forever. But for us, it probably doesn't make a lot of sense to draft a guy coming off a major injury to fill in for guy that has a major injury.

T-Sizzle wrote:(just me), but Im drafting for long term outlook and not immediate need. Im also not really willing to compare a guy in his early 20's with ACL issue w/ a guy that is 32 and has ACL issues.

Walter Thurmond had an ACL issue. How has that gone long term?

Carradine has to be a value pick, and he just might become one. Just like Thurmond was a 2nd round talent in the 4th round.

Scott, do you think he's a good prospect injury aside?

I think he is a hell of a pass rusher, and shows he can stop the run too. He gets kind of 2 gap, which might have been the scheme, when he expects the run, and that shows well for if he had to hold the edge against a guy like Kaepernick on an option. When he works through line traffic to stop a run away from him, he doesn't keep anything close to square, leaving him dead meat for cutbacks.

He lacks a little awareness in space. Sometimes he would get cracked by a TE or somebody else as he worked through traffic.

My real problem with him is when I see him called a LEO. When I compare him with Clemons, or for that matter the guy who Pete said last year will be our LEO someday, Irvin, Carradine is not a LEO. Both our guys came into the league smaller and faster. Carradine lacks speed even close to Irvin, and lacks some of Clemons linebacker instincts. I only have about 4 or 5 players I can use as LEO templates, our 2 and a couple of players from USC, and he does not really play or look like any of those. I see a traditional 4-3 end. Which is fine.

Keep in mind, I don't know that much. Just telling you what I see. Like I said, a hell of a pass rusher.

T-Sizzle wrote:(just me), but Im drafting for long term outlook and not immediate need. Im also not really willing to compare a guy in his early 20's with ACL issue w/ a guy that is 32 and has ACL issues.

Walter Thurmond had an ACL issue. How has that gone long term?

Carradine has to be a value pick, and he just might become one. Just like Thurmond was a 2nd round talent in the 4th round.

Apples to Oranges. Thurmond has nothing to do with Carradine. Not that I like either, just making an argument.

Ehhhhh? I would say it is a very legitimate take on the front office and how they view drafting players coming off ACL injuries. They have shown the will do it if the value is there. And how the last time they did take an ACL guy, it did not go so well. Which might adjust their view.

Scottemojo wrote:I think he is a hell of a pass rusher, and shows he can stop the run too. He gets kind of 2 gap, which might have been the scheme, when he expects the run, and that shows well for if he had to hold the edge against a guy like Kaepernick on an option. When he works through line traffic to stop a run away from him, he doesn't keep anything close to square, leaving him dead meat for cutbacks.

He lacks a little awareness in space. Sometimes he would get cracked by a TE or somebody else as he worked through traffic.

My real problem with him is when I see him called a LEO. When I compare him with Clemons, or for that matter the guy who Pete said last year will be our LEO someday, Irvin, Carradine is not a LEO. Both our guys came into the league smaller and faster. Carradine lacks speed even close to Irvin, and lacks some of Clemons linebacker instincts. I only have about 4 or 5 players I can use as LEO templates, our 2 and a couple of players from USC, and he does not really play or look like any of those. I see a traditional 4-3 end. Which is fine.

Keep in mind, I don't know that much. Just telling you what I see. Like I said, a hell of a pass rusher.

Thanks. You know a hell of a lot more than most of us, so your analysis is valued.

Scottemojo wrote:I think he is a hell of a pass rusher, and shows he can stop the run too. He gets kind of 2 gap, which might have been the scheme, when he expects the run, and that shows well for if he had to hold the edge against a guy like Kaepernick on an option. When he works through line traffic to stop a run away from him, he doesn't keep anything close to square, leaving him dead meat for cutbacks.

He lacks a little awareness in space. Sometimes he would get cracked by a TE or somebody else as he worked through traffic.

My real problem with him is when I see him called a LEO. When I compare him with Clemons, or for that matter the guy who Pete said last year will be our LEO someday, Irvin, Carradine is not a LEO. Both our guys came into the league smaller and faster. Carradine lacks speed even close to Irvin, and lacks some of Clemons linebacker instincts. I only have about 4 or 5 players I can use as LEO templates, our 2 and a couple of players from USC, and he does not really play or look like any of those. I see a traditional 4-3 end. Which is fine.

Keep in mind, I don't know that much. Just telling you what I see. Like I said, a hell of a pass rusher.

Thanks. You know a hell of a lot more than most of us, so your analysis is valued.

And I agree, he doesn't seem the right size model for LEO.

Well, I think the whole idea of the LEO is to have a Defensive end who moves like a linebacker. Carradine doesn't. And no, I don't know more than most of the guys on this board. I just waste my time more watching college players. I know more than PeHawk, but that's it.

His ACL will heal but he won't be a factor next season as a result of the injury. The team looks to likely have 12 draft picks including possibly 2 comps so if he's believed to have special pass rush talent I'd draft him and stash him on IR. He's apparently worth taking a risk upon fairly early. Otherwise if not him then Quanterus Smith. It's hard to find genuine pass rushing talent and lots of rocks need to be rolled over to find the guys who can play.

Until we develop a pass rush that will cause opposing teams to be forced to scheme to defend it we will never be able to completely take the final step. That was done and the final step was taken. The OLine still needs work.

Since when has avoiding a guy who's suffered an ACL in round one considered a 'short term' approach?

It's got nothing to do with short, long or medium term. It's about the seriousness of the injury. I'd rather avoid any player at any position that has suffered an ACL recently. I'd maybe make an exception if it was Andrew Luck and I needed a franchise QB. Or even a guy like Jadeveon Clowney next year. But for Tank Carradine? I don't get it. Just pick somebody else.

And for what it's worth... Okung, Thomas, Carpenter and Irvin were all expected to (and did) have an immediate impact. I'm not convinced this team will be considering drafting someone in round one that they'll have to redshirt. Maybe later on.

I don't know that anyone here said he should be picked @25 or in the 1st round even.

At present it's starting to appear that unless some special player falls to 25 the guy we'd pick then may be able to be drafted at a later point in the draft (i.e.: Short or Greene unfortunately before our 2nd rd pick though). I've noticed that nfldraftscout.com has Carradine rated as a 3rd rd. pick in the low 80's. If he is as talented a pass rusher as claimed, which may depend upon a whole lot upon the progress of his recovery, he'd be worth grabbing and stashing as good pass rushers are hard to find and steals like Michael Johnson rarely happen.

Until we develop a pass rush that will cause opposing teams to be forced to scheme to defend it we will never be able to completely take the final step. That was done and the final step was taken. The OLine still needs work.